Pennsylvania Statutes Title 24 P.S. Education § 13-1383. Extended special education enrollment due to COVID-19

(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to ensure that the present generation of school age children do not lose educational opportunities due to COVID-19.

(b) A student with a disability as defined in 22 Pa. Code § 14.101 (relating to definitions) who has reached twenty-one (21) years of age during the 2020-2021 school year or between the end of the 2020-2021 school year and the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year and is enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year is entitled to attend a school entity for the 2021-2022 school year and the school entity shall enroll the student if a parent or guardian and the student elect to enroll no later than July 15, 2021. The Department of Education shall develop a standard election form for a parent or guardian to elect to enroll the student and the form shall be made available on its publicly accessible Internet website.

(b.1) A student with a disability as defined in 22 Pa. Code § 14.101 who has reached twenty-one (21) years of age during the 2021-2022 school year or between the end of the 2021-2022 school year and the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year and is enrolled for the 2021-2022 school year is entitled to attend a school entity for the 2022-2023 school year, and the school entity shall enroll the student if a parent or guardian and the student elect to enroll no later than August 1, 2022. The Department of Education shall develop a standard election form for a parent or guardian to elect to enroll the student, and the form shall be made available on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the following shall apply to a student enrolled in a school entity under subsection (b):

(c.1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the following shall apply to a student enrolled in a school entity under subsection (b.1):

(d) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“IEP.” An individualized education program established under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 14.

“School entity.”A school district, intermediate unit, area career and technical school, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school, approved private school or chartered school for the education of the deaf and blind.